Climbing a tree stand is a thrilling and exciting activity, especially when you’re after your target buck. Making the first climb up a tree stand after a total knee replacement can be daunting. If you have recently undergone a total knee replacement surgery, it’s essential to take extra precautions to ensure your safety when climbing.

The first week or two after a total knee replacement surgery can be challenging, especially when it comes to walking and climbing stairs. In most cases, patients will spend one night in the hospital before going home. During this time, a physical therapist will initiate physical therapy to help restore your gait pattern, range of motion, and ability to navigate stairs safely. Out-patient physical therapy typically starts 3-5 days after the operation.

Before attempting to climb a tree stand, it’s vital to consult with your orthopedic physician and physical therapist to ensure it’s safe. A physical therapist can assess your range of motion, strength, and knee stability to determine if you’re ready to make the ascent.

Assuming you have the green light from your medical team, here are some tips for safely climbing a tree stand after a total knee replacement.

Let’s take a look at the 6 Tips for Safe Tree Stand Climbing After Knee Replacement Surgery:

1) Safety first

If you are hunting from a tree stand after undergoing a total knee replacement surgery, safety should be your top priority. One way to enhance your safety is by using a full-body harness system and safety line, which can provide extra reassurance and help prevent falls. The Hunter Safety System offers a range of products that are trusted by many hunters. 

After a total knee joint replacement, the risk of slipping on a step increases due to impaired joint receptors, or proprioception. You may experience difficulty in accurately placing your foot or lower leg on the step because you may not have a clear sense of where it is in space. Impaired range of motion, strength, and joint awareness can cause an increased risk of falling.

Following post-operative guidelines and recommendations of a physical therapist can aid in a faster and optimal recovery to help maximize performance with hunting after a total knee replacement.

2) Take it slow

After a knee replacement surgery, your knee may require you to slow down and watch your steps while accessing the stand. Consider the terrain where your tree stand is located, including creek banks, water crossings, and fence lines. If possible, try to hang your stand in an easily accessible tree to avoid the difficulties of getting to and from the stand. Also, try a trial climb a time or two before you climb the stand to sit for a hunt. This will give you a change to develop a plan and boost your overall confidence.

Some hunters have found it helpful to hang the same climbing sticks and stand in a separate location for practice. This enables you to work on safely climbing in and out of the stand without disturbing the deer in your preferred hunting spot. While it may require extra effort, practicing in this way can increase your chances of successfully tagging your target buck following a total knee replacement surgery.

3) Use a haul line

With a roll of para cord and a carabineer you can make a haul line very easily. Install these when you hang your stand so it’s ready to use the next time you climb the tree stand. Tie one end of the para cord to a branch at the top of your stand and allow the carabineer to fall to ground level. The carabineer will easily clip to your equipment and allow you to be hands-free when climbing the tree stand. Carabineers are especially useful during cold weather. The ease of clipping them to your equipment allows you to do this while wearing gloves, so you don’t have to take the time to take your gloves off and on and introduce the hands to cold weather.

To reduce the weight you are carrying up the tree stand, use a haul line to pull up your equipment. A research study has shown that losing one pound of weight can reduce the pressure through the knee joint four-fold. Using a haul line to pull up a 10-pound bow can reduce 40 pounds of pressure through your knee joint. This can make a significant difference in your ability to climb the tree stand successfully.

4) Use proper technique

Navigating stairs and uneven terrain will occur long before you are ready to climb a tree stand after a total knee replacement surgery. When navigating stairs, you will use your non-surgical leg to control the effects of gravity and minimize stress and pain to the surgical leg. Some individuals remember the saying, “up with the good, down with the bad,” to help remember which foot to place on the step when navigating stairs post-operatively.

When ascending stairs after a total knee replacement surgery:

• • • Use handrails or an assistive device to help maintain balance,
    • Step up with the non-surgical leg, and
    • Use a step-to gait pattern.

When descending stairs after a total knee replacement surgery:

• • • Use handrails or an assistive device to help maintain balance,
    • Step down with the surgical leg, and
    • Use a step-to gait pattern.

The non-surgical and strong leg is used to raise and lower the body against gravity. These tips are also applied to the stairs of a ladder stand or climbing sticks leading up to your tree stand. It is very important to maintain three points of contact when climbing a tree stand to reduce the risk of falling.

5) Climbing sticks and stand placement

When it comes to climbing sticks and stand placement, planning ahead is crucial. Proper installation of the climbing sticks and stand in a tree can significantly enhance your safety and performance when transitioning between the climbing sticks and stand platform.

For optimal safety, I recommend attaching the platform and stand on the opposite side of your surgical leg. This allows you to use your strong, non-surgical leg to climb in and out of the stand, following the principle of “up with the good, down with the bad.” This means you’ll be standing on your surgical leg at the top of the climbing sticks while stepping up to the platform with your non-surgical leg.

Lastly, try to avoid any twisting or pivoting while standing on your surgical leg, as this can increase pain and instability, which may compromise your safety and performance while climbing a tree stand after a total joint replacement. If possible, using a ladder stand or ground blind can provide easier access.

6) Strengthen your knee

Strength training is essential to ensure you have the necessary strength to climb a tree stand. After a knee surgery, you will experience joint swelling, impaired range of motion, pain, and weakness from arthrogenic muscle inhibition.

A physical therapist can guide your recovery process to help address the post-operative limitations and assist you in developing a strength training program that will help you build the necessary leg strength and endurance to resume hunting after a total knee joint replacement.

Here is a sample exercise program that focuses on restoring knee extension range of motion and quad strength after a total knee replacement:

1. Heel slides

Lie on your back with your legs straight out in front of you. Slide your heel back towards your buttocks as far as you can comfortably go, then slide it back out straight. Repeat for 10-15 reps, 3-5 times per day.

2. Quadriceps sets

Sit on your chair or lie on your back with your legs straight out in front of you. Tighten your thigh muscles and press the back of your knee down into the bed or chair. Hold for 3-5 seconds and release. Repeat for 10-15 reps, 3-5 times per day.

3. Straight leg raises

Sit on a chair or lie on your back with your legs straight out in front of you. Lift your operated leg up off the bed or chair, keeping it straight. Repeat 8-12 reps, 3-5 times per day.

4. Knee extension stretch

Sit on a chair with your feet flat on the floor. Slide your operated leg out straight in front of you, keeping your heel on the floor. Prop your ankle on a towel roll or pillow for an increased stretch. Hold for 3-5 minutes and repeat 3-5 times per day. *Restoring full knee extension is very important following a total knee replacement.

In conclusion, by following these tips, you can safely enjoy climbing a tree stand after a total knee joint replacement surgery. It is important to think ahead and consider taking a few trial runs (mentally and physically) before you climb the stand this upcoming hunting season.

With the right precautions and technique, you can enjoy spending time in the tree stand after undergoing a total knee replacement surgery, all while protecting your newly repaired knee.

How long do I need to use a walker after a total knee joint replacement surgery?

This varies from person-to-person. Generally speaking, an individual will transition to a walking cane or no assistive device in 1-2 weeks following a total knee joint replacement surgery. It is important to normalize your walking pattern and feel confident in the knee before wondering away from the walker.

How long does it take to recover after a total knee joint replacement surgery?

Out-patient physical therapy can range anywhere from 2-8 weeks in duration. At the three month postoperative mark most people will be able to resume normal daily activities comfortably. The total recovery following a total knee joint replacement can take up to a total of 12 months for optimal recovery.

Source: National Center for Biotechnology Information. “PUBMED – National Center for Biotechnology Information.” Weight loss reduces knee-joint loads in overweight and obese older adults with knee osteoarthritis – PubMed (nih.gov). Accessed 1-9-2023.